Shimla: The minimum eligibility age for Skill Development Allowance (SDA) has been reduced from 25 years to 18 years and the minimum educational qualifications has been fixed as matriculation which was 10 Plus two earlier. Besides, the requirement of being registered in employment exchanges for the minimum period of two years has been replaced by simply being registered in employment exchanges on the date of application for seeking benefit of the allowance.
The Government has also simplified the procedure as now the applicant has to simply submit income certificate issued by Executive Magistrate on proforma especially made for SDA under e-Praman and affidavit. Earlier, the applicant had to obtain unemployment certificate from Executive Magistrate alongwith declaration form and income certificate.
In an official communiqué issued here today, Director Employment, Himachal Pradesh informed that after simplifying the procedure, there had been significant rise in the number of applicants under the scheme and as on 15th November, 2013, SDA amounting to Rs. 1,50,78,000 had been disbursed to as many as 12001 unemployed youths. He said that about 10,000 forms had been received after simplification of the process.
